nonprofit | ALXnow

Nonprofit looks to triple affordable housing units at Arlandria apartment complex

Published March 10, 2022 at 10:45AM

Elbert Avenue Apartments (via Google Maps)

Alexandria non-profit Community Lodging has announced plans to significantly expand affordable housing in Arlandria-Chirilagua with the redevelopment of a 1940s apartment complex.

Elbert Avenue Apartments, a set of three three-story buildings constructed in the 1940s, currently has 28 units affordable for renters making 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) — the standard applied for evaluating affordable housing. But these buildings are in rough shape after what Community Lodging called years of “Band-Aid fixes”.

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Inova to put $1 million in grant funding into local nonprofits

By Vernon Miles

Published March 7, 2022 at 1:15PM

Inova Health System announced today that it plans to put $1 million in grant funding into non-profits addressing health needs in Alexandria and its neighbors.

The hospital system announced today that applications are open for the 2022 Health Equity Grant program, into which Inova is putting a record $1 million in funding. The grant program helps nonprofit organizations that provide services for under-resourced locals and promote equity.

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ALIVE! is hosting six free food distributions this month in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 4, 2022 at 10:45AM

Bags of food from ALIVE! were given to Arlandria residents on May 21, 2020 (staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria nonprofit ALIVE! will conduct six free food distributions throughout the city this month.

No identification is required to pick up the groceries, produce, chicken, eggs and bread.

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Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s second floating center gets back on City Council docket

By James Cullum

Published March 3, 2022 at 10:00AM

After two years in limbo, the Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s request to open a second floating Seaport Center on the waterfront is going back to City Council for approval next week.

The project was supposed to go to the Planning Commission in April 2020, but got sidelined by the pandemic. On Tuesday, March 8, Council will vote on the second center, which would be adjacent to its current location — the 1,200-square-foot McIlhenny Seaport Center at 0 Thompsons Alley.

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Volunteer Alexandria announces annual award winners, Florence King gets posthumous lifetime achievement award

By James Cullum

Published February 15, 2022 at 3:30PM

City Council candidate Florence King speaks at a candidate forum at Tenants and Workers United in Arlandria on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Next to her is candidate Kevin Harris. (Staff photo by James Cullum)

Alexandria’s Florence King, a 2021 City Council candidate who died in December, has been posthumously awarded Volunteer Alexandria’s top award.

Volunteer Alexandria’s 2021 Volunteers are the Heart of Alexandria awards gala has been canceled due to Covid, but top honors were still announced on Monday (Feb. 15).

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ALIVE! is opening one-stop-shop food centers this spring in West End and Old Town North

By James Cullum

Published January 31, 2022 at 2:30PM

Volunteers sort food at ALIVE! (Photo via ALIVE!/Facebook)

A leading Alexandria nonprofit that has given away millions pounds of food since the pandemic began is preparing to open two food distribution center for residents.

Just where the new ALIVE! centers will be located in the city is still under wraps, but the nonprofit hopes to make an announcement soon and open before the end of this spring. The plan is to make a one-stop shop for residents to get connected to city services.

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After 10 years in development, The Institute for Defense Analyses opens in Potomac Yard

By James Cullum

Published January 25, 2022 at 11:00AM

It took more than 10 years to dream up and two years to build, and the 370,000-square-foot Potomac Yard headquarters for The Institute for Defense Analyses officially opened this month for more than 1,000 employees in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.

The new office was designed in 2012 by D.C.-based KGD Architecture, and is located a stone’s throw from the incoming Potomac Yard Metro station, which is expected to open this spring.

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Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria awarded $1.6 million federal grant to reduce health hazards

By James Cullum

Published January 14, 2022 at 10:45AM

Via Rebuilding Together DC-Alexandria/Facebook

Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria has been chosen to receive a $1.6 million grant to reduce housing related hazards to 120 homes in the city.

RTA is one of three nonprofits in Virginia to get the multi-year funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s $104.7 million package. There were 60 similar organizations that were awarded revitalization funds.

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ALIVE! launching reusable bag drive to reduce waste at free food distributions

By James Cullum

Published January 6, 2022 at 10:45AM

Alexandria nonprofit ALIVE! is launching a reusable bag drive later this month to help residents get free food and reduce waste.

ALIVE has given away millions of pounds of food to city residents since the pandemic started, and the reusable bags are also intended to bring awareness to the city’s new 5 cent plastic bag tax. The bag tax went into effect on Jan. 1.

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Friends of Guest House residents get warm holiday with 130+ sets of new pajamas and cozy socks

By James Cullum

Published December 28, 2021 at 1:15PM

It was a warm holiday for Friends of Guest House residents in Alexandria, as a local realtor more than doubled her goal by receiving more than 130 sets of new pajamas and warm socks from the community.

The Friends of Guest House reentry programs help women transition back to the community from prison, and the pajamas and socks were given to 30 women in both of the nonprofit’s facilities.

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Nonprofits partner with health department and ACT for Alexandria for vaccine information campaign

By James Cullum

Published December 22, 2021 at 3:30PM

A number of local nonprofits are rolling up their sleeves to increase outreach for COVID-19 vaccines for children with families ages 5-11.

The “Sleeves Up, ALX: COVID-19 Vaccine Partnership Program” is a collaboration between ACT for Alexandria and the Alexandria Health Department, which dispersed $145,657 in grant funding to increase awareness of booster shots with populations disproportionately affected by the virus and provide information for young families.